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Thursday, 21 November 2024 | ||
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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 04-06-21Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
[01] Headlines lunchPresident of the republic Tassos Papadopoulos left this morning for working visits in Spain and Portugal,Greece captain Theodoros Zagorakis said qualification for the Euro 2004 quarter-finals had put his team on the football map, Japan today offered its help in seeking the release of a South Korean businessman taken hostage in Iraq and whom militants are threatening to behead unless Seoul abandons its plan to send troops there and Turkish soldiers killed five Kurdish guerrillas overnight in a military operation in eastern Turkey involving thousands of troops. [02] PAPADOPOULOS LEFTPresident of the republic Tassos Papadopoulos left this morning for working visits in Spain and Portugal. His first stop is Madrid, where tomorrow he will hold talks with prime minister Hose Louis Zapatero. They will discuss European issues, developments in the Cyprus problem and bilateral relations. King Huan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofia will host lunch in honour of President Papadopoulos. On Wednesday, the President of the Republic will travel to Lisbon, where he will meet the Portuguese President and hold talks with the Prime minister of the country. In statements at Larnaca airport, President Papadopoulos expressed the view, that on its own, the European constitution can't bring about a solution of the Cyprus issue. However he added that this Constitution is another argument for the Greek-cypriot side, because now, the provisions of any constitution that might come about in a solution, must be compatible with the European Constitution. Commenting on restrictions imposed by the occupation regime, on the government support measures for the Turkish cypriots, the President of the Republic declared that the Greek cypriot side will do what is right to implement its policy. He also noted that to a great extent, the economic isolation of the Turkish-cypriots, is imposed by the occupation regime for political reasons.[03] Greece EuroGreece captain Theodoros Zagorakis said qualification for the Euro 2004 quarter-finals had put his team on the football map.Greece came back from 2-0 down to secure a result which handed them runners-up spot in Group A ahead of Spain who lost 1-0 to Portugal. After 10 years in the national side, the most-capped player in the Greek squad said he was still in a state of shock. Coach Otto Rehhagel believes his team have nothing to lose now they are in the quarter-finals. Hosts Portugal also went through last night, beating Spain in a European championship match after 23 years. The 1-0 scoreline allowed Greece to go through in second place, despite losing 2-1 to already eliminated Russia. In today's Group B matches, another two quarterfinal places will be decided, as England take on Croatia and France face Switzerland. Both matches kick off at a quarter to ten. Meanwhile, the European Championship keeps CyBC two on top of the television ratings. According to AGB statistics, the Greece-Russia match topped viewing with 56 point 5 percent of the audience. [04] Skorea hostageJapan today offered its help in seeking the release of a South Korean businessman taken hostage in Iraq and whom militants are threatening to behead unless Seoul abandons its plan to send troops there.South Korean businessman Kim Sun-il, 33, was kidnapped in Falluja on June 17th -- the day before South Korea announced where its troops would be deployed after months of agonising because of security concerns and public opposition. The group holding Kim said South Korea had 24 hours, starting last night to withdraw its decision to send troops or they would behead him. Today, his rasping, desperate cry of "I don't want to die" was being broadcast repeatedly on South Korean television stations, sending a chill through many people who already had reservations about the government's plan to send troops to Iraq. [05] Turks KurdsTurkish soldiers killed five Kurdish guerrillas overnight in a military operation in eastern Turkey involving thousands of troops.One soldier was also injured in the fighting last night in the mountainous Tunceli province. One woman was among the five dead rebels from the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party. An official said 4 thousand soldiers were taking part in the operation, supported by helicopters. It began after around 25 militants were located in the region. He said explosives were seized during the operation. Violence has increased in the mainly Kurdish southeast since the PKK ended a unilateral six-year ceasefire on June 1st. Security officials estimate more than 2,000 militants have entered Turkey in recent months from hideouts in northern Iraq, often via Iran and Syria. [06] PhilippinesPresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today prepared for a new six-year term in which she has pledged to attack poverty faced by millions of Filipinos, saying she wanted to unite the nation after years of bitter disputes.However, doubts over her mandate caused by a drumbeat of cheating allegations from the opposition threaten to undermine the U.S.-trained economist from the start. A 13-day tally by a congressional panel that ended yesterday gave the daughter of a former president a narrow victory over film star rival Fernando Poe Jr in the May 10 elections. The opposition, which says Arroyo cheated her way to victory, can still contest the result in Congress in the next few days or take the battle to the Supreme Court. But analysts say her inauguration was virtually certain given her majority in Congress. [07] Afghan troopsThe Afghan government will send hundreds of troops to reassert central authority and disarm rebel militia in the capital of a central province overrun last week by forces of a renegade commander.It would be the third such deployment of the fledgling Afghan National Army to restive provinces where commanders have resisted attempts to disarm their militia forces before elections due to be held in September. Jean Arnault, U.N. Special Representative to Afghanistan, welcomed the deployment of forces to Ghor, where he described the situation as "still very unstable". [08] TailerAnd finally, A Japanese teenager was forced by his teacher to write an apology in blood after dozing in the classroom.The teacher later went to high school principal Hiroaki Dan and confessed what he had done. The teacher had apologised to the 17-year-old boy and his parents, Dan said, confirming a local media report of the incident, which happened last Thursday. He said the boy was taken to the staff room of the school in Fukuoka City, southern Japan, after being caught asleep during a lesson. The 40-year-old male teacher handed the boy a box-cutter and paper and told him to write an apology in blood. The teacher left the student, who then cut his finger and began to write an apology using his own blood. The teacher involved is expected to resume classes in a few days [09] Weather lunchFine weather is forecast for this afternoon, with some patchy clouds. Winds will be westerly to southwesterly moderate force four, turning strong force five in windward areas, over slight seas to moderate seas in windward areas. Temperatures will reach 34 degrees inland, 31 on the southern and eastern coastal areas, 27 on western coastal areas and 25 on higher ground. Tonight fine weather will continue, with thin mist and low clouds forming in some areas. Winds will be westerly to southwesterly, later turning westerly to northwesterly, light, force three, over slight seas. Temperatures will drop to 21 degrees inland and in coastal areas with 15 on higher ground. The fire hazard is very high in all forest areas.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |